
iiy 11. ij EAR i>Oll.V, 

HAJOR-GENCRAL OP THE DNITED STATEs' ARMY. 
WITH 

A LETT^i 



m^j^^j^ ^^s?o 5Da^iaiB®]B]?f 



9 



<tEPEIXING HIS UNPROVOKED ATTACK OJT THE CHARACTER OF 



THK LATE JilAJ. GEN, ISRAEL PUTNAM. 



DANIEL PUTNAM, Esc^, / 



/^ 



BOSTOIV : 

Pt BUSHED BT MVNROe & FRANCIS, NO- 4. CORyHIlt,. 
1818. 



BATTLE OF BUNKER'S-HILL. 



\JN the 16th of June, 1775, it was determined that a fortified post 
should be established at or near Bunker's Hill. 

A detachment of the army was ordered to advance early in the even- 
ing of that day, and commence the erection of a strong work on 
the heights in the rear of Charlestown, at that time called Breed's 
Hill, but from its proximity to Bunker Hill, the battle has taken its 
Jiatnc Irom the i;.<ter eminence, which overlooks it. 

I'iiL^ ork Wiij. commenped and carried on under the dir<'! cicv im 
such engin("ers as Ave wer<; able to procure at that time. It was a 
square redoubt, the curtains of which were about 60 or 70 feet in ex- 
tent, with an intrenchment, or breast work, extending 50 or 60 feet 
from the northern angle, towards Mystic river. 

In the course of the night the ramparts had been raised to the height 
of 6 or 7 feet, v. ith a small ditch attheir base, but it was in yet a rude 
and imperfect state. Being in full view from the northern heights of 
Boston, it was discovered l>y the enemy, as soon as day-light appear- 
ed, and a determination was immediately formed by General Gage, 
for dislodging our troops from ti.v< „eAV and alarming position. Ar- 
rangements were promptly inade for ..frecting this important object. 
The movements of the British troops indji voting an attack, were soon 
discovered; in consequence of which, orders w.j-tj immediately issued 
for the march of a considerable part of our arni > tofeiuforce the detach- 
ment at the redoubts on Breed's Hill ; but such Vtjj^ the imperfect 
state of discipline, the want of knowledge in military scitnrc, and tire 
deficiency of the materials of war, that the movement of tnv troops 
was extremely irregular and devoid of every thing like concert — ?-.v h 
regiment advancing according to the opinions, feelings or caprice of 
its conmmnder. 

Colonel Stark's* regiment was quartered in Medford, distant about 
foiif nii!v-; i^rom the point of anticipated attack. It then consisted o, 
(IjiittYn ^panics, and was , probably the ? rsi»st rcgimerrt in >'■ 
a»suj>'. '^><Vho »tten o'clocii in tiie morning he ro« ived o.'Mors (,; m; ;. 
The regimvljit lioing destitute of ammunition, it .«^as formed in front of 
a house occu{>ied , - nn arsenal, where each man received a gill cap full 
of powder, fifttH'n :; r nnd one flint. 

The several nipiaios u ore then ordered to march their companies 
to their respective\ qua. in - . and make u]) their powder and ball into 
cartridges, with Vne greatest }»" sible dis|)atch. As there were scarce- 
ly two muskets i ji a company ' ^ual caliber, it was necessary to re- 
duce the size of *he balls for ma. y of them ; and as but a small pro- 
portion of ti\e Jen had cartridge boxes, the remainder made use of 
powdei' horns a id ball pouches. 

After complclpig the necessary prejjarations for action, the regi- 
ment formed, aifc marched about 1 o'clock. ^Vhen it reached Charles- 

* This distin^uishad volwBn is still alive, in the ninety-first ycarof hii age, and resides in the state of New- 
Hampshire. He is one oft' Monly t/iree survivin? general officers of the revolutionary war. The other two avi" 
Majoi Gen. St, Clair, who Jes in the iiiterier ofreniisylvania, aad Brig. Gen. Huntington, of Connecticut. 



town Neck we found two regiments, halted, in consequence of alieaty 
enfilading fire thrown across it, of round, bar, and chain shot, from 
the Lively frigate, and floating batteries anchored in Charles river, 
and a floating battery lying in the river Mystic. — Major M' Clary 
went forward, and observed to the commanders, if they did not intend 
to move on, lie wished them to open and let our regiment pass ; the 
latter was immediately done. My company being in iVont, I marched 
by the side of Col. Stark, who, moving with a very deliberate pace, 
I suggested the propriety of quickening the march of the regiment, 
tliat it might sooner be relieved from the galling cross fire of the ene- 
my — With a look peculiar to himself, he fixed his eyes upon me, and 
observed with great composure, '< Dearborn, one fresh man in action, 
is worth ten fatigued ones,'' and continued to advance in the same cool 
and collected manner. When we reached the top of Bunker's Hill, 
where Gen. Putnam had taken his station, the regiment halted for a 
-'^M,',- moments for the rear to coiar^ up. 

Soon after, the enemy were discovered to hane iatulcvi on the shore, 
of Morton's point in front of Breed's Hill, under cover of a tremen- 
dous fire of shot and shells from a battery on Copp's Hill, in Boston, 
which had opened on the redoubt at day break. 

jNhijor General Jlorve, and Brigadier Geiieral Pigot, were the com- 
manders of the British forces which first landed, consisting of four bat- 
talions of infantry, ten com])anies of grenadiers, and ten of light in- 
fantry, -with a train of field artillery. They formed as they disembark- 
ed, but remained in that position, until they were reinforced by anotiier 
detachment. 

At this moment the veteran and gallant Colonel Stark harangued 
his regiment in a short but animated address ; then directed them to 
give three cheers, and make a rapid movement to the rail fence which 
ran from the left, and about 40 yards in the rear of the redoubt to- 
wards Mystic river. Part of the grass having been recently cut, lay 
in winnows and cocks on the field. Another fence was taken up — the 
rails run througli the one in front, and the hay, mown in the vicinity, 
suspended upon'them, from the bottom to the top, which had the appear- 
ance of a breast work, but was in fact, no real cover to the men j it 
however, served as a deception on the enemy. This was done by the 
direction of the ** committee of sufetif," of which James Winthrop,Esq, 
who then, and now lives in Cambridge, was one, as he has within a 
low yea.»'S informed me. Mr.Winthrop himself acted as a volunteer on 
that da^, and was w-tf.nded in the battle. 

At the moment our regiment was formed in the rear of the rail feme, 
with one other small regiment from New-Hampshire, under the com- 
mand of Colonel Reed, the fire commenced between the left wing of the 
British armv, commanded by General Howe, and the troops in the 
redoubt under Col. Prcscott, while a column of the enemy was advan- 
cing on our left, on the shore of Mystic river, with an evident intention 
of turning our left wing, and that veteran and most excellent regiment 
of Welsh fusilecrs, so distinguished for its gallant conduct in the bat- 
tle of Mindcn, advanced in column directly on the rail fence ; when 
within 80 or an 100 yards, displayed into line, with the precision and 
firmness of troops on parade, and opened a brisk but regular fire by 
platoons, which was returned by a well directed, rapid, and fatal dis- 
charge from our whole Une. 



The action soon became .sjeneral, and very heavy from right to 
left. In the course often or fifteen minutes the enemy gave way at all 
points, and retreated in great disorder, leaving a large number of 
dead and wounded on the fiekl. 

The tiring ceased for a short time, until the enemy again formed, ad- 
vanced and recommenced a spirited fire from his whole line. Several 
attempts were again made to turn our left, butthetroops having thrown 
up a slight stone wall on the bank of the river andlaj'ing down behind 
it, gave such a deadly fire, as cut down almost every nian of the party 
opposed to them ,• while the fire from the redoubt and the rail fence 
was so well directed and so fatal, especially to the British officers, 
that the whole army was compelled a second time to retreat with pre- 
cipitation and great confusion. At this time the ground occupied by 
the enemy was covered with his dead and wounded. Only a few small 
detached parties again advanced, which kept up a distant ineffectual ^^ 
scattering fire, until a stion? reinfcrcemcnt arrived from Bn ♦^jf^/"^ 
which advanced on the southern declivity of the hill, in tlie reav of 
Charlestown. When this column arrived opposite that angle of the 
redoubt which faced Charlestown, it wheeled by platoons to the right 
and advanced directly upon the redoubt without firing a gun. By this 
time our ammunition was exhausted. A few men only had a charge left. 

The advancing column made an attempt to carry the redoubt by 
assault, but at the first onset every man that mounted the parapet was 
cut down, by the troops within, who had formed on the opposite side, 
not being prepared with bayonets to meet a charge. 

The column wavered for a moment, but soon formed again ; when a 
forward movement was made with such spirit and intrepidity as to 
render the feeble efforts of a handfid of men, without the means of 
defence, unavailing, and they fled through an open space in the rear 
of the redoubt, which had been left for a gate-way. At this moment 
the rear of the British column advanced round the angle of the redoubt 
and threw in a galling flank fire upon our troops, as they ruslied from 
it, which killed and wounded a greater number than ]>ad fallen before 
during the action. — The whole of our line immediately after gave 
way and retreated with rapidity and disorder towards Bunker Hill ; 
carrying off as many of the woinided as possible, so that' only tliirty 
six or seven fell into the hands of the enemy, among whom were Lt. 
Colonel Parker and two or three other oilicers who fell in or near the 
redoubt. 

When the troops arrived at the summit of Bunker Hill, we found 
Gen. Putnam with nea;'ly as many men as had been engaged in the 
battle ; notwithstanding which no measure had been taken far reinfor- 
cing us, nor was tliere a shot fired to cover our retreat, or any move- 
ment made to check the advance of the enemy to this height, but on 
the contrary, Gen. Putnam rode off, with a number of spades and 
pick axes in his hands, and the troops that had remained with him 
inactive during tlie whole of the action, although within a few hundred 
yards of the battle ground and no obstacle to impede their movement 
but musket balls. 

The whole of the troops now descended the northwestern declivity 
of Bunker Hill, and recrossed tiie neck. Those of the Ncw-Ham])s!iire 
line retired towards Winter Hill, and the otiiers on to Prospect Hill. 

Some sligiit works were thrown up in the coui'se of the evening— r- 



strong advance pickets were posted on the roads leading to Charles- 
town, and the troops anticipating an attack, rested on tlieir arms. 

It is a most extraordinary (act that the British did not make a 
single charge during the hattle, which, if attempted, would have been 
decisive and fatal to the Americans, as thoy did not carry into the 
field fifty bayonets. In my company there was but one. 

Soon after the ctmnnencement of the action, a detachment from the 
British force in Boston was landed in Ciiarlestown, and within a few 
moments the wh(de town a])pcared in a blaze. A dense column of 
smoke rose to a great height, and there being a gentle breeze from 
the southwest, it hu!ig like a thunder cloud over the contending ar- 
mies. A very fev/ houses escaped the dreadful conflagration of this 
devoied town. 

From similar mistakes, the fixed ammunition furnished for the field 
pieces was calculated for guns of a larger calibre, which prevented 
the use of fit Id artillery, on both sides. There was no cavalry in 
eituer army* Fiom the sliips of war anfi a large battery on Copp's 
Hill, a heavy cannonade was kept up upon our line and redoubt, from 
the commencement to the close of the action, and during the retreat ; 
hut with very little effect, except that of killing the brave Major An- 
drew M'Clary of Col. Stark's regiment soon after we retired from 
Bunker Hill. He was among the first officers of the army. — Posses- 
sing a sound judgment, of undaunted bravery, enterprising, ardent 
and zealous, both as a patriot and soldier. His loss was severely felt 
by his comjjatiiots in arms, wiiile his country was deprived of the 
services of one of her most promising and distinguished champions 
of liberty. 

After leaving the field of battle I met him and drank some spirit and 
water with him. He was animated and sanguine in the result of the 
cunfiict for independence, from the glorious display of valor which had 
distinguished his countrymen on that memorable day. 

He soon observed tiiat the British troops on Bunker Hill appeared 
in motion, and said he would go and reconnoitre them, to see wheth- 
er they were coming out over the neck, at tlie same time dij-ecting 
me to march my company down t!ic road towards Charlestown. 
We were tlien at Tufts' house near Ploughed Mill. I immediately 
made a forward nmvement to the position he dii-ected me to take, and 
hali.c<l while he priicecded to tl»e old pound, which stood on the site 
iu)W occupied as a tavern-house not far from the entrance to thf n'^ck. 
Aftt^r no'.had SatisilciWMimself that the enemy did not intend to leu\e 
their strong posts on the heights, he was i-eturning towards me, and 
when within twelve or fifteen rods of wh^'re I stood, with my compa- 
ny, a random cannon shot, from one of the frigates lying near whei*e 
the centre of Craigie's bridge now is, passed directly througli ];is 
body and put to flight one of the most heroic souls that ever anima- 
ted man. 

He leaped two or three feet from the ground, pitched forward, and 
fell dead upon his iface. I had him carried to Medford, where he 
was interied, with all the respect and lionors we could exhibit to the 
manes of a great and good man. He was my bosom friend ; we had 
gr(iwn up together on terms of the greatest intimacy, and I loved 
him as a hwother. 

My position in the battle, more the result of accident t.lian any rcgu- 



6 

Jarity of Ibrmation, was on t'ne r'x^ht of the Hne ai the rail fence, 
whirh afforded me a fair view of the whole scene of action. 

Our men were intent on cutting- down every officer whom they couhl 
distinguish in the British line. When any of them discovered one 
he would instantly exclaim <• fA^re," " see that officer.,'''' " let us have 
ii shot at Aim," when two or three would fire at the same moment ; 
and as our soldiers were excellent marksmen and rested their mus- 
kets over the fence, they were sure of their object. An officer was dis- 
covered to mount near the position of Gen. Howe, on the left of the 
British line, and ride towards cmr left ; which a column was endeav- 
ouring to turn. This was the only officer on horseback during the 
day, and as he approached the rail fence, I heard a number of 
our men observe, *' there," " tliere," — " see that officer on horse- 
back" — '* let us fire," " no, not yet." — " wait until he gets to that 
little knoll," — " now" — wlien they fired and he instantly fell dead 
from his horse. It proved to be Mapr Pitcairn, a distinguished v>^- 
ccr. — I'he fire of the enemy Avas so badly directed, I should presume 
that forty-nine balls out of^fifty passed from one to six feet over our 
head, for I noticed an apple tree, some paces in the rear, which had 
scarcely a ball in it from the ground as high as a man's head, while 
the trunk and branches above were literally cut to pieces. 

I commanded a full company in action and had only one man killed 
and five wounded, which was a full avei-age of the loss we sustained, 
excepting those who fell while sallying from the redoubt, when it was 
stormed by the British column. 

Our total loss in killed was eighty-eight, and as well as I can re- 
collect ui)wards of two hundred wounded. Our platoon officers car- 
ried fusees. 

In the course of the action, after firing away what ammunition I 
had, I walked to the iiigher ground to the right, in rear of the redoubt, 
with an expectation of procuring froni some of the dead er wounded 
men who lay there, a supply. While in that situation I saw at some dis- 
tance a dead man lying near a small locust tree. As he ajipcared to be 
much better dressed than our men generally w ere, I asked a man who was 
passing me, if he knew who it was. He replied '* it is Dr. Ifarren.** 

I did not peisonally know Doctor "Warren, but was well ac juaint- 
ed with his j)ublic character. He had been recently appointed a Gen- 
eral in our service, but had not taken command. He was President 
of the Provincial Congress then sitting in \^ atertowM, and having 
her.rd that there would pi-obaldy be an action, had come to share in 
whatever might happen, in the character f;f a volunteer, and was 
imfortuenately killed early in the action. His death was a sevei-e 
misfortune to his friends and country. Posterity will a])preciate 
his worth and do honour to his memory. He is immortalized as a 
patriot, who gloriously fell in the defence of freedom. 

The number of our troops in action as near as I was able to ascer- 
tain did not exceed fifteen hundred. The force of the British, althe 
commencement of the action, a^ as estimated at about the same iiumber, 
but they Avere frerpicntly reinforced. 

Had our ammunition held out, or had we been supplied with only 
fifteen or twenty rounds, I have no doubt but that Ave should have kil- 
led and wounded the greatest part of their army, and compelled the 
remainder to have laid down their arms ; for it was with the greatest 
difficulty that they were brought up the last time. Our fire was so 



Jpiwlly, pfirticularly to the officers, that it would have hcen impos- 
ailiJe to have resisted it, hut for a short time h)na;er, 

1 did not see a man quit liis post during the action, and do not be- 
lieve a single soldier, who was brou.a;ht into the field, fled, until the 
whole army was ()bli,2;ed to retreat, for want of powder and ball. 

The total loss of ilie Ri-itisli was about twelve bundled ; upwards 
of five hundred killed and between six and seven hundred wounded. 
The AVelsh ftisileers suffered most severely ; they rame into action 
five hundred strong, and all were killed or wounded but eighty -three. 

I will mention an extraordinary cirnnnstance to show bow far 
tbe temporai-y reputation of a man may effect the minds of all classes 
of society. 

Gcnei'al Putnam had entered our army at the commencement of the 
revolutionary war, with such an universal popularity as can scarcely 
now be conceived, even by those who then fcH the whole force of it. 
and no'one can at this time offer any satisfactory reasons why he wa< 
held in such high estimation. 

In the battle of Bunker Hill he took post on the decllvUif towards 
Charlestotvn JVeck^ where I saw him on horseback as we passed on 
to Breed's Hill, with Col. Gerrish by his side. I heard the gallant 
Col. Prescott (who commanded in the i-edoubt) observe, after the war, 
at the table of his Excellency James Bowdoin, tlieia Governor of this 
Commonwealth, " that he sent three messengers diiring the battle to 
Gen. Putnam, requesting him to come forward and take the command, 
there being no general officer present, and the relative rank of the 
Colonel not having been settled ; but that he received no answer, and 
his whole conduct was su( h, both during the action and the retreat, 
tliat he ought to have been shot." He remained at or near the top of 
Bunker Hill until the retreat, with Col. Gerrish by his side ; I saw 
them together when we retreated. He not only continued at that dis- 
tance himself during the whole of the action, but had a force with 
him nearly as large as that engaged. No reinforcement of men or 
ammunition was sent to our assistance ; and, instead ol attem])ting to 
cover the retreat of those wlio had expended their last shot in the 
face of the enemy, he I'etj-eated in company with Col. Gerrish, and 
his whole force, without discharging a single musket ; but what is still 
more astonishing, Col. Gerrish was arrested for cownniice, tried, 
cashiered, and nniversallij execrated ; while nf)t a word was said 
against the conduct of Gen. Putnam, whose extruordivary vrrpidarity 
ah)ne saved him, not only from trial, but even trom censure. 0<d^ 
Gerrish commanded a regiment, and shrudd have been at its head.' 
His regitnent was nat in a-tion although ordered — but as he was iu 
the suit of tlie Gejieral, a?id ai)peared t ) be in tiie sit'ihti-jn of adiuta"t 
general, why was he not directed by Putnam to jou it, or the regi- 
ment sent into action u'lder tjje senior officer present with it. 

When Gen. Putnam's ephemeral and unaccountable i)0{)ularity sub- 
sided or faded away, and the minds of the people were released from 
tbe shackles of a delusive trance, the circumstances relating t'> Bun- 
ker Hill v^iivt viewed and talked of in a vvry aifer'-nt light, and the se- 
lection of the unfoi'tunate Col. Gerrish as a scapc-gjut considered as a 
7mjsterious and inexplicable event. 

I have no private feeling to gratify by making this statement in 
relation to Gen. Putnam, as I never had any intercourse with him, 
and was only iil the army where he was present, for a few mouths j; 



but at this late period, I conceive it a duty to give a fair and impar- 
tial account of one of the most important battles durin.^ the war of 
independence, and all the circumstances connected with it so far as 
I had the means of heins; correctly informed. 

It is a duty I owe to posterity, and the character of those brave ofli- 
Gers who bore a share in the hardships of the revolution. 

Nothing like discipline had entered our army at that time. Gen. 
TFardf then commander in chief, remained at his quarters in Cam- 
hridge, and apparently took no interest or part in the transactions of 
the day. 

No general officer, except Putnam^ appeared in sight, nor did any 
officer assume the command, undertake to form the troops, or give any 
order's, in the course of the action, that I heard, except Col. Stark, 
who directed his regiment to reserve their fire on the retreat of the 
enemy, until they advanced again. 

Every platoon officer was engaged in discharging his own musket, 
and left his men to fire as they pleased, but never without a sure 
aim at some particular object, which was more destructive than 
any mode which could have been adopted with troops who were not 
inured to discipline, and never had been in battle, but were still famil- 
iar with the use of arms, from boyhood, and each having his peculiar 
manner of loading and firing, which had been practised upon for years, 
with the same gun, any attempt to control them by uniformity and 
system, would have rendered their fires infinitely less fatal to the ene- 
my. Not an officer or soldier of the continental troops engaged was in 
uniform, but were in the plain and ordinary dress of citizens ; nor 
was there an officer on horseback. (Signed) H. DEARBORN. 



I 



iLJi^^'iEia 



MAJOR-GENERAL DEARBORN, 



REPELLING 



HIS UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON THE CHARACTER 



OF THE LATE 



MAJOR-GENERAL PUTNAM ; 



AND CONTAINING 



SOME ANECDOTES RELATING TO 



l^^lTTliEi 0¥ T&\yXl^E.lBlAlllAli, 



NOT GENERALLT KNOWN. 



DANIEL PUTNAM, Ksa- 



-...- -." Nothing extenuate, 

Nor set down aught in malice." 



BOSTON : 

mBI.ISHED BY MCNROB & FRANCIS, NO. 4, CORNRILt, 
1818. 



TO 



MAJOR-GENERAL DEARBORN, 



Sir, 
TT was not until the 29th of April, that I saw a publication, entitled, 
■* " An Account of the Battle of Bunker-Hill ; written for thePoi-t- 
Folio, at the request of the Editor, by H. Dearborn, Major- General 
U. S. Army." 

This production, as unworthy of the rank you bear, as it is void of 
truth in some of its most prominent parts, I have read with mingled 
emotions of indignation and contempt. 

What, Sir, could tempt you at this distant period to disturb the 
ashes of the dead, and thus, in the face of truth, to impose on the pub- 
lic such a miserable libel on the fair fame of a man who " exhausted 
his bodily strength, and expended the vigor of a youthful constitu- 
tion in the service of lus country" ? What, above all things, could 
induce you to assail the character of General Putnam^ in a point most 
of all others, perhaps, unassailable ; and to impeach with cowardice, 
a man always foremost in danger ? a man, of whom it was proverbi- 
ally said, as well by British as Provincial officers, that, in a service 
of great peril and hardship, from 1755 to 1763, " He dared to lead 
where any dared to follow ?" 

It was from a full conviction of this truth in the public mind, and 
from a confidence in his experience, patriotism, and fidelity to his coun- 
try, that " General Putnam entered our army at the commencement of 
** the revolutionary war with such an universal pnpidarity as can scarcely 
** now be conceived, even by those who then felt the whole force of it." 
But, however ^* universal.'^ however ** extraordinary ," however *' wn- 
accountahlc'^ may have been this *' popularity" to a mind jaundiced by 
envy, and smarting under the sting of popular odium, even while loaded 
with Executive favor, it was not quite so " ephemeral" nor did it so 
soon ^'fade away," as you would now fain make the public believe. On 
the contrary, it was his lot, while in service, generally to have the 
post of danger and importance assigned him. 

When the British army left Boston, in the spring of 1776, he 
was ordered to New- York, for the defence of that city ; Major Gen- 
eral Lee, who had been sent there the January preceding, having gone 
on to South -Carol in a. I am unwilling to swell this letter by introducing 
any thing not directly in point ; but, since it can hardly be supposed 
that the *' extraordinary popularity" of General Putnam should have 
so entirely imposed on the discriminating mind of Washington, after 
a daily and most familiar intercourse from July to March, as to have 
led him to commit the defence of that important post to the Coward 
of Bunker-Hill, I take the liberty of inserting the following 



*< Orders and Instructions for Major-General Putnam. 

" As there are the best reasons to believe that the Enemy's fleet and 
army, which left Nantasket road last Wednesday evening-, are bound 
to New-York, to endeavour to possess that important post, and, if possi- 
ble, to secure the communication by Hudson's river to Canada ; it must 
be our care to prevent tliem from accomplishing their designs. To 
that end, I have detached Brigadier-General Heath, with the whole 
body of Riflemen, and five battalions of the Continental army, by 
way of Norwich in Connecticut, to New-York. These, by an express 
arrived yesterday from General Heath, I have reason to believe are 
in New-York. Six more battalions, under General Sullivan, march 
this morning by the same route, and will, I hope, arrive tliere in 
eight or ten days at the farthest. The rest of the army will immediately 
follow in divisions, leaving only a convenient space between each di- 
vision to prevent confusion and want of accommodation upon theirmarch. 

« You will, no doubt, make the best dispatch in getting to N«^w- 
York. Upon your an-ival there, you will assume the command, and 
immediately proceed in continuing to execute the plan, proposed by 
Major-General Lee, for fortifying "that city, and securing the passes 
of the East and North rivers. If, upon consultation with the I5riga- 
dier-Generals and Engineers, any alteration in that plan is thought 
necessary, you are at liberty to make it, cautiously avoiding to break in 
too much upon his main design, unless where it may be apparently 
necessary so to do, and that, by the general voice and opinion of 
the gentlemen abovementioned. 

"You will meet the Quarter-Mastcr-Gcneral, Colonel Mifflin, 
and Commissary-General, [Colonel Trumbull,] at New- York. As 
these are both men of excellent talents in their different departments, 
you will do well to give them all the authority and assistance they 
require: and should a Council of War be necessary, it is my direction 
they assist at it. 

*• Your long service and experience, will, better than my particular 
directions at this distance, point out to you the works most proper 
to be first raised, and your perseverance^ activity, and am^ will lead 
you (without my recommending it,) to exert every nerve to disappoint 
the enemy's designs. 

" Devoutly praying that the Power whicli has hitherto sustained 
the American arms, may continue to bless them with the Divine 
protectioii, I bid you. Farewell. 

" Given at Head-quarters, in Cambridge, this 29tb of March, 1776. 

" GEO. WASHINGTON." 

The faithful execution of the duties here enjoined were acknowl- 
edged by the Commander in Chief after his arrival in New-York, 
and his thanks were publicly expressed in general orders. 

Two days before the Battle of Flat-Bush, in consequence of the 
sickness of that excellent officer, Major-General Greene, who had 
commanded on Long-Island, General Putnam was ordered to the 
command of that post, and assisted in the arduous and complicated 
difficulties of that masterly retreat. 

In the memorable and distressing ^ig-Zif of the American army 
through New-Jersey in 1776, General Putnam was always near — 
always the friend, the supporter, and confidant of his beloved Chief ; 
and the moment after reaching the western bank of the Delaware 



vith the rear of the army, he was ordered to Philadelphia, to fortify 
and defend that city, a.^ainst a meditated attack ; concerning: which. 
Genera] Washington thus expresses himself in a letter to Genei'al 
Putnam, dated 23d Decemher, 1776. « If I had not heen well con- 
vinced before of the Enemy's intention to possess themselves of 
Philadelphia, as soon as the frost should form ice strong enough to 
support them and theii- artillery across the Delaware, I have now 
obtained an intercepted letter, which places the matter beyond a doubt." 

On the evening preceding the surprize of the Hessians at Trenton 
and while the army was paraded for that object, the ivriter was dis- 
patched by the Commander-in-Chief, with a confidential message to 
General Putnam, apprizing him of the pending event, and i'e(iuiring 
him to be in perfect readiness to move at a moment's warning wherever 
directed ; and immediately after the action at Princeton, he was oi'der- 
ed to pass the Delaware with what force he had, to Croswix, and, 
soon after, to repair to Princeton, where he continued thro' tlie winter, 
within sixteen miles of the head-quarters of Lord Cornwallis, and 
cov^ering a large extent of country with but a handful of men ; and« 
those almost entirely composed of New-Jersey militia, who had but 
a short time previcnis, in despair at the aspect of public affairs, receiv- 
ed written protections from the enemy, which they were now required 
by proclamation of Washington to give up, and subscribe allegiance 
to the United States. It is a fact, that during one whole week of this 
time. General Putnam had no military force with him at Princeton, 
but a fine independent company from Baltimore, under Captain Yates. 

In the spring of 1777 the important post of tlie Highlands on the 
Hudson was committed to the defence of General Putnam ; and though 
the loss of Fort Montgomery was among the disasters of that campaign, 
yet a court of enquiry, upon mature deliberation, and with a lull 
knowledge of the facts, reported " the loss to have been occasioned by 
want of men, and not by any fault in the commander." It evidently 
was not productive of any diminution of confidence in Washington ; 
for the correspondence between him and General Putnam had been dif- 
fuse on the subject, in which it was expressly declared by the latter, 
*' that he would not hold himself responsible for the j)ost connnitted to 
Ills care, with the small number of men left for its defence ;" and when 
he had determined to erect another fortification for the defence of the 
river, he left it Avholly to the judgment of General Putnam to fix the 
spot, Mho decided in favor of JVest-Foiut : and, as his Bingi-apher 
has remarked, " It is no vulgar praise to say, that to him belongs the 
glory of having chosen this rock of our military salvation." 

\V hen the three armies, which had the pi'eceding year acted sepa- 
rately, united at AYhite Plains under Washington, Gen. Putnam was 
called to the command of the right wing. 

But why need instances be multiplied to sliew, tliat he, who now held 
the second rank in the American army, retained the confidence of him 
who in all points was deservedly acknowledged the Jirst ? I forbear 
to draw a comparison between his standing in the estimation of the 
American Chief, and that of your^s in the War department, through a 
succession of Secretaries, who directed the military operations of the 
late war. If a retrospect of facts and events, bring not a blush 
to your cheek, it must be that you are below shame. 

It has been reserved for you, Sir, after a lapse o£forty-thrce years. 



and when you probably supposed the grave bad closer! on alhvbo would 
contradict your bold assertions, that you have thus, like an assassin in 
the dark, cowardly meditated this insidious bloAv, ajrainst a chaiacter 
as much above your level, as your base calumny is beneath a Gentle 
man and an Officer. 

There yet lives one, who not only feels indij^nant at such unmerited 
abuse of his lather's name, but who has, also, a personal knowledj^e 
of most of the military concerns of General Putnam tlirougb tlie revo- 
lutionacy war, having been the , greater ])art of tb.attime attached t'j 
liis family, and in possession of his confidence. Ilegardless of con- 
sequences, he will not shun to declare the truth, though it may bear 
hard on the licentious assertions of Major-General Dearborn. 

You commence your work by saying that " On the i6th of Jane, 
1773, it was determined that afortijied post should be established at. or 
near Bnnker-HrU.'^ This detenuination was made in a Council of 
War at whicli Gencrnl Putnam assisted ; and (without asserting what 
cannot now be proved, that the proposition tor occupying that post ori- 
ginated with him) — he it was, wlio went on with tbe first detachment, 
and commenced the work — he Mas the principal agent or'< Engineer," 
who traced the lines of the redoubt, and he continued most, if not all 
the night with tlic workmen : at any rate he was on the spot before 
sun-rising in the morning, and had " taken his station," as you say, 
*' on the top of TJunker-Ilill, where the regiment of Cohmcl Stark 
halted a few moments for the rear to come up." Here, you roundly 
assert, he *' remained dnrins; the whole action, with nearly as many men 
*' as had been engaged in the battle ; notwithstanding which, no meas- 
«* ures had been taken for reinforcing us, nor was there a shot fred to 
»< cover our retreat, nor any movement made to check the advance of 
« the enemy ; but on the contrary. General Putnam rode of' WITH A 
"NUMBi.R OF SPADES AND PICK- AXES IN UlS HANDS, 
"AND THE TROOPS THAT HAD REMAINED WITH HIM 
« INACTIVE." 

When a nian undertakes to deviate from truth, he should endeavour 
to veil falsehood with at least some appearance of probability. ^^ as it. 
then, cowardice, or treachery, that kept General Putnam in this dis- 
graceful situation during the battle ? If the former, can it be conceiv- 
ed, that under the galling fire of a pursuing enemy, he would thus er.- 
funi>?r hiiiiseir with siicli a load? « A NUMBER of spades and 
lick ixe--* wo'tld be ".o wry conveitirut appendage ^m' a Uving 
coward, who had to ])ass the same ♦* ^ftWi??^ cmss^rt; of the enemy,"! 
winch caused the dauntless Captain Dearborn, but a few iiouj's before 
to ins;Q Colonel Stark *' to quicken his march.'" If ti-eaciiery were the 
cause, is it not surprizing, that he should have retained tbe confident e 
of his Country and Commander to the close of the war. 

My object, Sir, is to elicit truth, and to correct misrepresentation : 
and if in the course of this investigation it shall be found, that General 
Putnam was not »< inactive during the whole of the action" at Bunker- 
Hill, bi:t tliat he pai-ticipated in the danger as well as the glory of that 
(lay — I hope it will detract nothing from your courage, whatever it 
may do Irom youi* veracity. 

it would seeui Iroin your statement, that little was done in that ac- 
tion, but by tbe regiments of Stark and Reed ; — that it was these alone 
whicii lined the '• rail fence,''' and repelled the repeated assaults of Bri- 
tish veterans. 



But where was the brave Captain Knowlton, with a detachment 
under his comiTiaiid, vho iirst took possession of the ground — who 
worked all night in raising the redoubt, and to whom as large a share 
of glory as to any other force of equal number is justly due ? The 
Honorable Judge Grosvenor, who was a wounded officer of that detach- 
ment — who entered the service one grade below you — who left it at 
the Peace of 1783, your semor in rank — and whose character as a cit- 
izen or an Officer will never suffer in comparison with your's shall be 
heard on this subject. 

" Fomfret, April 30<A, 1818. 
" Mt Dear Sir, 

** IN conformity to your request, I now state what came under 
my. observation at the battle of Bunker-Hill, at the commencement 
of the revolutionary war, and with as much precision as possible, at 
the distance of time that has intervened. 

*< Being under the command of General Putnam, part of our regi- 
ment, and a much laiger number of Massachusetts troops under 
Col. Prescott, were ordered to march on the evening of the 16th of 
June, 1775, to Breed's-Hill, where, under the immediate superintend- 
ance of General Putnam, ground was broken and a redoubt formed. 
On the following daj', the 17tli, dispositions w^re made to deter the 
advance of the enemy, as there was reason to believe an immediate 
attack was intended. General Putnam during the period was ex- 
tremely active, and directed principally the operations. All were 
animated, and their general inspired confidence by his example. The 
British army, having made dispositions for landing at Morton's- 
Point, were covered by the fire of shot and shells from Copp's Hill 
in Boston, which it had opened on our redoubt early in the morning, 
and continued the greatest part of the day. At this moment a detach- 
ment of four lieutenants (of which I was one) and one hundred and 
twenty men, selected the preceding day from General Putnam's 
regiment * under Caiil. Knoivlton, were, by the genei-al ordered to 
take post at a rail-fence on the left of the breast-work, that ran north 
from the redoubt to the bottom of Breed's-Hill. This order was 
promptly executed, and our detachment in adAancing to the post, took 
u]) one rail-fence and placed it against another, (as a partial cover) 
nearly parallel w itli the line of the breast-work, and extended our left 
nearly to Mystic river. Each man was furni ;hed with one pound of 
gun-powder and forty-eight balls. This amuiunition was received, 
however, prior to marching to Breed's Hill. 

« In this position our detachment remained until a second division 
of British troops landed, when they commenced a fire oi' their Jicid ar- 
tillery of several rounds, and particularly against the rail-fence ; then 
formed in columns, advanced to the attack, displayed in line at about 
the distance of musket shot, and commeuced firing. At this instant our 
whole lined opened upon the enemy, and so precise and fatal was our 
fire, that in the course of a short time they gave way and retired in 
disorder out of musket shot, leaving before us many killed and wounded. 



* The General Offiorrs from Connecticut, in the campaign of 1775, had each a regiment, 
with licuteoant-coloiiels under tbem. 



*< There was but a short respite on the part of the British, as their 
lines were soon filled up and led aj^ainst us ; when they were met as 
before, and forced back with ,^reat loss. 

" On reinforcements Joining the enemy, they made a direct advance 
on the redoubt, and being successful, which our brave Capt. Knowltou 
perceiving, ordered a retreat of his men, in ivhich he was sustained by 
two companies under the command of Captains Clark and Chester. 

*♦ The loss in our detachment I presume was nearly equal. Of my 
own immediate command of thirty men and one subaltern, there were 
eleven killed and wounded ; among the latter was myself, though not so 
severely as to prevent my retiring. 

" A( the " rail-fence"' there was not posted any corps save our own- 
under Knowlton, at the time the firing commenced ; nor did I hear of any 
other being there, till long after the action. Otiier troops, it was said, were 
ordered to join us, but refused doing so. 

" Of the officers on the ground, the most active 5;irithin my observa- 
tion were Gen. Putnam, Col. Prescott, and Capt. Knowlton ; but rn> 
doubt there were many more equally brave and meritorious, who musi 
naturally have escaped the eye of one attending to his own immediate 
command. 

" Thus you have a brief statement of my knowledge of the action, 
without descending to minute particulars. To conclude, it is matter of 
surprize, even of astonishment to me, my dear Sir, that I am called on 
to state my opinion of the character of your honored father, Gen. Put- 
ram ; who was ever the first in public life, at the post of honor, and 
danger; and who, in his private conduct was excelled by none. Look 
but at his services in the French and Indian wars from 1755 to 63, and 
finally at those of the revolution, and you will need no proof to refute 
the calumny of common defamers. 

" With respect, I am, yours truly, 

•• THOS : GROSVENOR. 
« Colonel Daniel Putnam.*'' 



This statement from a gentleman of truth and honor, differs essen- 
tially in many points from that made by you. It contradicts your asser- 
tion that there was no field artillery^ used by the British army. It con- 
tradicts the assertion, which to military men would hardly weed con- 
tradiction, that the position at the ^^ rail fence was tak£n by ^i-.e direct-on 
of the committee of safety.'* It makes void the insinuation that Stark's 
and Reed's regiments were the only troops posted at the '* rail-fence ;*' 
and it even makes it doubtful if they were there at all. That they were 
not, when the firing commenced, Col. Gi'osvenor states clearly, and 
those who know the modest unassuming deportment of this respef table 
man, and his cautious character, will be sure that he says nothing po- 
sitively, but what he knows fully and recollects distinctly. Jt shews too, 
and that pretty clearly, that either Captain Dearborn with his *'//// 
comjmny** (consisting at that time of ninety-six) were very fortunate in 
escaping the British fire, or that they were less exposed to it tlian 
Knowlton's detachment, which had about ime third of their number kil- 
led and wounded, wliile of Ca]>tain Uearborn's only six were hurt. It 
shews, if you were on the ground, and had tlie knowledge of fads which 
you claim to have, that you have done injustice, not oidy to Gen. Fut- 



nam, but to the companies of Clark and Chester^ both of whom were 
known to suffer loss in covering the retreat from the « rail-fence." It 
shews, that orders were given, and dispositions for defence made* by 
other officers than Col. Stark and Capt. Dearborn. It shews, in fine, 
that nearly your whole statement of the transactions of that memorable 
day must have resulted either from ignorance or misrepresentation. 

Let nothin.!^, which is here or elsewhere said, be construed into a 
wish of tlie writer, to detract, in any w ay whatever, from the merits of 
the veteran Gen. Stark. He honors his name, his patriotism, and his 
important services to liis country, in that war which gave it Freedom 
AwA Independence ; and istliankful to that Being who has given him a 
heart to rejoice in the honest fame of others, without coveting one jot 
or tittle of their merited applause. He hopes this aged and long de- 
voted servant of the public may be permitted to descend to his grave 
in peace and honor ; and that no ruthless hand may be found, after a 
rest of more than forty years, to drag before the tribunal of a succeed- 
ing generation, and to couple with infamy and dishonor, a Name so 
long renoAvned for valour* ! 

I beg pardon, sir, for this digression — it was an apostrophe not to be 
resisted, and I now proceed to lay before you further evidence on the 
subject — for I had scarce gone through the reading of your ridicnlons 
tale, before a letter was put into my hand, by Charles* H. Hall, Esq. 
from Col. John Trumbull, of New- York, — an officer of distinction in 
the revolutionary war, and now a celebrated historical painter, em- 
ployed in his profession by the government of the United States. 

As this letter affords some evidence of the " station" of Gen. Put- 
nam, during the action ; and does notfully coincide with your account 
of the death of the immortal WarrExV, I shall, by his permission, make 
use of it in this place. 



« JVew-York, SOth March, 1818. 
" Dear Sir, 

" Mr. Hall has just shewn me tlic Port-Folio of last month, contain- 
ing an account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, which appeai-s to haA'e 
been written for the mere purpose of introducing a most unjustifiable 
attack upon tlie memory of your excellent father. 

" It is strange that men cannot be contented v.'ith their own 
ho.iest share of fame, without attempting to detract from that of others : 
- — ^but, after tlie attempts wliich have been made to diminish the 
immortal reputation of Washington, who shall be surprized, or wlio 
repine at tliis enviable attendant on human greatness. 

*' In all cases like this, peihaps, the most unquestionable testimony 
is that which is given by an enemy. 

" In the summer of 1786 I became acquainted in London, with Col. 
Johi Small, of the British army, who had served in America many 
years, and liad known General Putnam intimately during the war 
of Canada fi-om 1756 to 1763. From him, I had the two following 
anecdotes respecting the battle of Bunker Hill ; — I shall nearly repeat 
his words : — Looking at the Picture which I had then almost com- 
pl^^ted, he said : « / don't like the situation in which you have placed 
my old friend Putnam ; you have not done him justice. I wish you 



woiild alter that part of your Picture, and Introihice a circumstance 
which actually happened^, and vMch I can never fors^et. When the 
British troops advanced the second tivte to the ultack of the redoubt, I, 
"with the other oncers, was in front of the line to encourage the men : we 
had advanced very near the works undisturbed, when an irregular fire, 
like afeu-de-joie 7C as poured in upon us ; itxvas cruelly fatal. The 
troops fell back, and when I looked to the right and hft, J saw not one 
officer standing; — I glanced my eye to the enemy, and saw several 
young men levelling their pieces at me; I knew their excellence as 
marksmen, and considered myself gone. M that moment my old friend 
Putnam rushed forward, and'strikivg up thcmn%'dc,s of (heir pieces 
with his sword,cried out, " For God's sake, my lads,douH fire at that 
man — I love him as I do my hrother.'* If'e were so near each other 
that I heard his words distinctly. He was obeyed ; I bowed, thanked 
him, and walked away unmolested.'* 

**• Tb.f. Qfhr.T aviecik'te v«'lat,es to the drath of General Warren. 

** * At the moment wlien the troops succeeded m carry in,^ the redoubt, 
and the Americans were in full retreat. Gen. Howe (who had been 
hurt by a spent ball which bruised his ancle,) was leaning on my arm. 
He called suddenly to me : " Do you see that elegant young man 
who has just fallen ? Do you know him ?" I looked to the spot towards 
which he pointed — « Good God, Sir, I believe it is my friend Warrkn^.* 
** Leave me then instantly — run — keep off the troops, save him if 
possible." — I flew to the spot, " My dear friend," I said to him, " I 
hope you are not badly hurt :" — he looked up, seemed to recollect me, 
smiled and died ! A musket-ball had passed through the upper 
part of his head.' 

" Col. Small had the character of an honorable upright man, and 
could have no conceivable motive for deviating from truth in relating 
these circumstances to me ; I therefore believe them to be true. 

*< You remember, my dear Sir, the viper biting the file. The char- 
acter of your father for courage, humanity, generosity, and integrity 
is too firmly established, by the testimoi\y of those who did know 
him, to be tarnished by the breath of one who confesses that he 
did not. 

** Accept, my dear Sir, this feeble tribute to your father's memory, 
from one who knew him, respected him, loved him — and who wishes 
health and prosnerity to ,vou and all the jjood man's poster«tv. 

•'.TOIIN TRU>f3ULL. 
'^Daniel Putnam, Esq." 



I shall make no comment on the first anecdote by Col. Small, except 
that the circumstances were related by General Putnam without any 
essential alteration, soon after the Battle ; and that there was an in- 
terview of the parties on the lines between Prospect and Btmker-HiJI, 
at the request of Col. Small, not long afterwards. 

Respecting the death of Warren, there is a trijlijig disagreement. 
In the one case, we are to understand, that, after having expended 
your ammunition — during the height of conflict, and while the redoubt 
was still possessed by the Americans, you left your post, and delibe- 
rately traversed the field of slaughter, to rifle the dying and the dead 



10 

of such portion ol" their " gill-ciif ofpowder, as they liad not been spar- 
ed to use, when you saw Warren dead by a small locust tree ! 

In the other case, it is asserted, (with somethin.ejlike the appearance 
of truth indeed,) that he fell at the moment the redoubt was gained by 
the British— that he was seen by Gen. Howe to fall, and was yet alive 
when spoken to by Col. Small, iif^er the retreat of the Americans. 

Both statements cannot be true. You, perhaps, better than I, know 
to which the truth belongs. 

You have undertaken, sir, to inform many who never saw Gen. Put- 
nam, and some probably, who never before heard his name, of the pub- 
lic estimation in which he was held at the *•' commencement of the re- 
volutionary ivar'* ; and it is no trivial consolation to the writer, after 
the unworthy means you have used to defame his character, that he is 
able to shew from an authentic source, in what light he was viewed at 
the close of that war, by him who Iiad tlie best means of knorvin^, and, 
of till other men, the best talents forjudging of the merits and scr\ices 
of officers under his command. 

Let the <» Father or his Country'* be heard — for tho* dead, he 
yet speaketh, and his testimony will be respected wh^n the name and 
character of the subject of this address, shall be no longer remembered. 



<•' Ikad-(liiartcrSy Qd June, 1783. 
" Dear Sir, 

« Your favor of the 20th of May, I received v. ith much pleasure. 
For I can assure you, that, am<mg the many worthy and mei-itorious 
officers with whom I have had the happiness to be connected in service 
through the course of this war, and from Vviiose cheerful assistance in 
the various and trying vicissitudes of a complicated contest, the name 
of a Putnam is not forgotten ; nor will it be, but with that stroke of 
time which sliall obliterate from my mind the remembra!ice of all those 
toils and fatigues through which we have struggled*, for the preserva- 
tion and establishment of the rights, liberties, and independence of our 
countiy. 

*' Your congratulations on the happy prospect of peace and inde- 
pendent security, with their attendant blessings to tlie United States, I 
receive with great satisfaction ; and beg you will accept a return of my 
gratulatios:!« to you, on this auspicious evciv*; — -an event, in which, 
great as it is in itself, and glorious as it will ])robahly be in its conse- 
quences, you have a right to participate largely, fr ova the distinguished 
part you have contributed towards its attainment. 

" But, while I contemplate the greatness of the object for which we 
have contended, and felicitate you on the happy issue of our toils and 
Iabours,whicii have terminated with such general satisfaction ; I lament 
that you should feel the ungrateful returns of a cou)itry * in whose ser- 
vice you have exhausted your bodily strength, and expended the vigor 
of a youthful constitution. I wish, howevei', that your expectations of 
returning liberality may be verified. I have a hope they may ; but 
should they not, your case will not be a singular one. Ingratitude has 
been experienced in all ages, iim\ republics in particular have ever been 
famed for the exercise of that unnatural and sordid vice. 

* Allutling to the public dissatisfaction in Connecticut, .and the clamor about half pa" ai ! 
osnsna'jtation. 



*< The secretary at ^^ ar, who is now here, intorrns me ihat you liiivi; 
evbr been considered as entitled to full pay since your absence from the 
field, f and that you will be considered in that lij^ht till the close of iAit 
war; at which period you mil be equally entitled to the same emolu- 
ments of half pay or commutation as other officers of your rank. Tlie 
same opinion is also j^iven by the paymaster-general, who is now with 
the army, empowered by Mr. Morris for the settlement of all their ac- 
counts, and who will attend to your's whenever you sliall think proper 
to send on for that purpose ; which it will pi-obably be best for you to do 
in a short time. 

<• I anticipate with pleasure the day, (and I trust not far off,) when 
I shall quit the busy scenes of military employment, and retire to the 
more tranquil walks of domestic life. In that, or whatever other situ- 
ation Providence may dis])ose of my future days, the remembra.nce 

OF THE MANY FRIENDSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS I HAVE HAD THE 
HAPPINESS aO CONTHA^^T WITH THE GE-iTTIEJlEN OF TTi& nAffMY i 
WILL BE ONE OF MY MOST GRATEFUL REFLECTIONS. 

" Under this contemplation, and impressed with the sentiments of 
benevolence and repjard, I commend you, my dear Sir, my other friends, 
and, with them, the interests and happiness of our dear country, to the 

KEEPING AND PROTECTION OF ALMIGHTY GOD, 

** I have the honour to be, <fcc. &c. 

•' GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

" To the Hon. Major-General Putnam." 



Here, Sir, is unequivocal evidence, either that Washington was 
a man of guile,\\ho said what he believed not, and commended whom he 
approved not ; or that, penetrating as his mind was, it still remained 
fettered with " the shnckles of a delusive trance,^* which *♦ v/(t\ people 
were released Jrom, when General Putnam's ephemeral and nnaccounta- 
hie popularity subsided, or faded away** J ! 

Bat\vhen did this happen ? Wlien were *< the minds of the People 
released from the shackles of this delusive trance*' ? When were 
*« the circumstances relatino; to Bunker-Hill viewed and talked of in 
a very different light** ? When wits " the unfortunate Colonel Gerrisli" 
considered *» as the scape-goat** on whose head was laid the cowar- 
dice of Gjf neral .Putnaiivj' His name has- rc.stijd ;:i peace and hcnour 
B -thirty years, undisturbed by the sacrilegious pen of calumny ; and 
, till your *♦ mysterious and inexplicahle account of the Battle of 
ker-Wll** found its way into ihc Port-folio^ was the public sentiment 
changed concerning him. Why else, was this publication so inij[>e*'ious- 
ly called for, that it became a " duty you owed to posterity and 

THE character OF THE BRAVE OF^ICEIiS WHO BORE A SHARE IN 
THE HARDSHIPS OF THE REVOLUTION," tO publish SUCh a disgiaccful 

libel, and tliat too, *< wilhont any private feelings to gratify**? 

Sir — this veil is too tliin to hide the malignity of your heart, or tlie 
selfishness of your viev/s. The ^r?t///, liowever yon may strive to dis- 
guise U, is this : — ^AlS " Commander in Chief," your " bed** of milita- 
ry honor •« is shorter ^ than that a man can stretch himself on it** — and 

+ General Putnam- bad a paralytic stroke in the year 1780, (occasioned by long expos«re tr» 
*xtreme cold w(-,irhpr.~> which disabled him from <;<»Vvi<-,- ev^r aftpr 



Liic " covering'* for disgrace, *» narrower than that you can wraj) your- 
self in if." — Henre, resort has 1>oon liad to a fictitious tale of the Bat- 
tle of Bunker Hill, coupled with which, it is questionable if Captain 
Dearborn's name was ever found, till you made yourself the hero of 
your own romance. 

You might have soundod the trumpet of your own fame undisturbed 
by me, till you had wearied yourself with the blast. — But 'tis the com- 
mand of God that we honor our Father^ and « while I live, I'll speak,'f 
when any shall wantonly, and maliciously, endeavour to cast dishonor 
on his name. 

That youihave done so, is the sole cause of drawing this letter from 
one, wljo lities in retirement, Avithout any immediate concern in public 
affairs, nor any wish regarding them, but that the country of his birth 
and best aflTectlons may long continue to enjoy the blessing of Heaven 
m such wi^e and' virtuous councils, as will, by a Just dispensation r,: 
r j T v-u ei tffi tS of a fi-ee goTciiifneiii, ultimately unite all hearts in its s.r]. 
port :— -from one, who has no personal knowledge of you j and who. 
though constantly with the army of the rcvfdution from 177 5 to '80. 
hardly recollects to have heard your name, till announced at the head 
of the war department. His impressions of your character from that 
time^to the present, have been drawn from public opinion, and not from 
pai'ty prejudice or private nnimosity. It was not necessary in this letter, 
to sta'te these impressions fully ; nor has it in any case been done, but 
by comparison with the character you have unjustly assailed, and in 
seeking a motive for the cruel assault. 

If, in doing this, any thing has escaped his pen bordering on sever- 
ity, the, provocation must be his excuse ; — and where that is impar- 
tially weighed, the blame, if any, will rest, not on him, but on 
yourself. , ,. 

ThercAs yet one more passage to notice, and I have done. I allude 
to ihe declaration which you ascribe to Col. Prescott, as having been 
made «,at tlie tabic of the late Governor Bowdoin." 

It is not possible for me to prove that Colonel Prescott did not make 
such a (Vclaration. But I have proved, that what you allege to have 
been said by him could not he true. It is well known that Colonel Pres- 
cott sustained a high and honourable reputation ; and that he was wel« 
acquainted with General Putnam, and must have known the opinions 
Wrti.'i u>j 'X-tingiashcd uiCii v,r the revolution ■«p*;Grtaiviod of ':-is Jnd^_ 
vidual ana military character. It must, therefore, be left to the pu^y- 
to decide, whether it is most probable that Col. Prescott made the */^ 
sertion v, hich you have imputed to him ; or whether, like many othCi, 
representations you have made, it has no foundation in fact. 

Ivlany other mis-statements in your hook might be noticed and refu- 
ted ; but I am weary and disgusted with the pollution of its pages, and, 
as my sole object has been to vindicate a slandered character, I hasten 
to give you the name of DANIEL PUTNAM. 

firooklifn^ Connecticut, 4th May, 1818. ; 



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